WTF?!? Someone wanted a better rant.... he goes...#$%@$%@#$%

[20Gauge]

First off #$@#$@#$%#T$#$

Now that I have gotten that out of my system...

In the last year we have to replace our old ( 6+ years old ) Canon high capacity printers. These were the printers that printed 10s of thousands of pages each year for our clients.

Yes, we are going paperless for the client whom will allow it, but the majority 90% still want to see hard copies that they do not need to print...

Why? Generally the clients don't have toner or a working printer 3 out of 4 times..... what a waste on my end....

But that is not the topic today.......

The new printers are of excellent quality and we have had no issues with the speed or quality of printing ( Brother's printers ) and they had a fair price of $400 each....

So the issue......

1) The $%@#$% toner cartridges are no loner 5k pages, but 3k pagers. Okay we can deal with that, but the Brother's direct is $119 per cartridge, but we found a decent source ( 4Inkjets ) that will give us 5 for a decent price.....

That is my 1st issue.....

2) We just found out that the machines ALSO require that their drums be replaced once every 12k pages, which for us is 4 times per year at a MINIMUM..... #$%#$%#$%#$#$%#$ at over a $100 per..... thankfully 4Inkjets had them at a decent price.....


This office stuff is getting expensive.... my @#$%#$% pens doubled in the last 3 years and my folders now cost 50% more.......


Ugh!!!!!!

 

[Blacknarwhal]

At least it's still deductible! And frankly, I'd sooner pay Brother than Uncle.

 

[Tex88]

Could be worse could be HP.
Brotha4lyfe

 

[greysage]

Increase your prices to offset the cost, or tell them straight up that printed copies now require a service fee due to ever-increasing printing costs.

 

[Wildwood]

If you could get the new chips, you would be fine. The drums usually have a ton more life in them and are nowhere near done. DH has worked for Xerox, Canon and Minolta. We get a lot of bootleg stuff off ebay since he's retired from that biz. I cannot tell you how many chips we went through and the drum still worked on my old printer. Eventually, it did truly need replaced.

 

[BassMan]

A $400 printer doing 10s of thousands of pages a year? Sounds more like the numbers I heard with my short stint as an office-copier salesman (big printers/copiers).

Just sayin'. My little $150 BW Brother laser doesn't see more than maybe 1,000 pages a year.

 

[Kathy in FL]

I just bought a brand-new laser printer from Brother. It isn't as reliable at the older models but for now the toner cartridges are cheaper but don't print as many sheets. It isn't as reliable as our oldest HP. Our newer color laser printers aren't as reliable as the really old Brother printer we have but it needs a new drum and cartridge and neither are made any longer.

What has gotten expensive is the blasted paper. I used to get a case of reams for under $20 when they were on sale. Can't get a case for less than $36 on sale these days. We go through a ream of paper every two or three days assuming we don't have anything special to print. Pens?! OMG. I use the fine/razor point roller ball types, hubs uses medium/fine. We both go through a lot of pens even doing most things on the computer, including our notes. I tried going to a fountain pen but I can't write fast enough with them and they can be a pain to maintain. File folders have doubled in price and they were never cheap to begin with for legal size and the same in hanging files. The cartridges for my lable-maker are getting hard to find in-store so I'll have to start ordering them in bulk online ... assuming I can find them for a decent price.

I swear, they're doing everything to nickel and dime the small business office to death.

 

[Kathy in FL]

Increase your prices to offset the cost, or tell them straight up that printed copies now require a service fee due to ever-increasing printing costs.

Tenants now get two free hard copies of their Lease Agreements. They lose one of those or need more it costs for our time, delivery, and supplies. I have no problem uploading a copy of their signed lease to a drop box for their download and printing but so many of them play dumb and clueless when they can do it for the feds to apply for assistance or whatever. I wised up to that years ago. People are only as dumb as you let them get away with being.

There are some legitimate people without access to tech. For those - mostly our elderly tenants - we have no problem helping them out. I've even run a couple to their doctor appointment when they have no other option. But most of them don't lose their hard copies of anything.

 

[20Gauge]

A $400 printer doing 10s of thousands of pages a year? Sounds more like the numbers I heard with my short stint as an office-copier salesman (big printers/copiers).

Just sayin'. My little $150 BW Brother laser doesn't see more than maybe 1,000 pages a year.

We do try and get the industrial version

 

[Griz3752]

The gist of the above is:
Older products were more reliable and less expensive.
Operating costs (consumables) are pricier every month.

It's always been thus as far as I can see.

Having said, the rant and addendums, are fully justified.

 

[Meemur]

20Gauge, life will be better for you in four and and one-half days, I promise!

 

[packyderms_wife]

This office stuff is getting expensive.... my @#$%#$% pens doubled in the last 3 years and my folders now cost 50% more.......



And this is why I've gone back to writing with fountain pens! And if you really want your BP to go up, try buying quality paint brushes.

 

[Kathy in FL]

20Gauge, life will be better for you in four and and one-half days, I promise!

Unless he has a lot of clients with extensions. LOL

 

[kyrsyan]

20Gauge, life will be better for you in four and and one-half days, I promise!

As someone in a connected field, I doubt it. Then will be the pile up of folks who wait until Monday @ 5pm. Or show up sometime next week saying "I filed the extension because I couldn't get here in time."

It's the reason that boss only does taxes for her clients. If they don't want to go to an external CPA.

 

[20Gauge]

20Gauge, life will be better for you in four and and one-half days, I promise!

Not with 150+ customers to still chase down..... lol

Everyone is late this year....

 

[20Gauge]

This office stuff is getting expensive.... my @#$%#$% pens doubled in the last 3 years and my folders now cost 50% more.......



And this is why I've gone back to writing with fountain pens! And if you really want your BP to go up, try buying quality paint brushes.

The pens are for the customers. It has our name and number on them.... so they don't forget us....it works really well for us also.....

 

[Knoxville's Joker]

Xerox is the best brand on the market.

But there is a service menu and I have been known to disable the counter alert on drum units. You may want to see if there is a service menu option to disable the drum unit counters. or Reset them. I have done that before as they make those things not last too much...

 

[Squid]

The printer business is like razors or diabetic testing business. The money is made in the repeat ‘supply’ sales.

They make more money in selling cartridges or razor blades or test strips or arm monitor than the original item.

Hell people are reporting new web connected HP machines that require connection to set-up will shut themselves down if you install 3rd party cartridges.

 

[Southside]

First off #$@#$@#$%#T$#$

Now that I have gotten that out of my system...

In the last year we have to replace our old ( 6+ years old ) Canon high capacity printers. These were the printers that printed 10s of thousands of pages each year for our clients.

Yes, we are going paperless for the client whom will allow it, but the majority 90% still want to see hard copies that they do not need to print...

Why? Generally the clients don't have toner or a working printer 3 out of 4 times..... what a waste on my end....

But that is not the topic today.......

The new printers are of excellent quality and we have had no issues with the speed or quality of printing ( Brother's printers ) and they had a fair price of $400 each....

So the issue......

1) The $%@#$% toner cartridges are no loner 5k pages, but 3k pagers. Okay we can deal with that, but the Brother's direct is $119 per cartridge, but we found a decent source ( 4Inkjets ) that will give us 5 for a decent price.....

That is my 1st issue.....

2) We just found out that the machines ALSO require that their drums be replaced once every 12k pages, which for us is 4 times per year at a MINIMUM..... #$%#$%#$%#$#$%#$ at over a $100 per..... thankfully 4Inkjets had them at a decent price.....


This office stuff is getting expensive.... my @#$%#$% pens doubled in the last 3 years and my folders now cost 50% more.......


Ugh!!!!!!

Just raise your prices up to what the crooks at H& R Block charge.
You can cover a lot of costs with that.

 

[tnphil]

The printer business is like razors or diabetic testing business. The money is made in the repeat ‘supply’ sales.

They make more money in selling cartridges or razor blades or test strips or arm monitor than the original item.

Hell people are reporting new web connected HP machines that require connection to set-up will shut themselves down if you install 3rd party cartridges.

Many printers these days have electronics in the toner cartridges and will only function with OEM equipment.

 

[nomifyle]

we are on our third crappy printer that does not work. So we have not been able to print for the last few years. I'd buy another one if I could find one that works.

 

[Southside]

we are on our third crappy printer that does not work. So we have not been able to print for the last few years. I'd buy another one if I could find one that works.

Buy a used HP 1022. Mine is 15 yrs old, and prints EVERYDAY. Only use HP toner, though.

 

[end game]

The new printers are of excellent quality and we have had no issues with the speed or quality of printing ( Brother's printers ) and they had a fair price of $400 each....

I use a brother mfc-7360 currently. This thing has copied tens of thousands of pages using off brand linyo toner cartridges and drums. Someone tossed a older 2200 series at the discard pile at the local storage unit. Brought it home plugged it in and printed pages out of it. Maybe search for a brother legacy model?

 

[20Gauge]

Just raise your prices up to what the crooks at H& R Block charge.
You can cover a lot of costs with that.

We work very hard to keep costs down.... we are not thieves.....

 

[Texican]

We have used Epson printers for several years. I have used LD Products for years for ink cartridges. The new Epson printer worked with them until a recent software up grade by Epson and then the cartridges no longer work. Not a happy camper.

LD Products will be sending me new cartridges that suppose to work with the Epson Printer. Will wait and see if they work.

Texican....

 

[CGTech]

You can set an option in Brother printers to keep printing regardless of it warning you that Toner is low. And I will never buy an HP printer for our offices again.

 

[Southside]

We work very hard to keep costs down.... we are not thieves.....

No, either am I, but H&R Block sure is. OMG.

 

[Elza]

Keep in mind that these cartridges will print considerably more than the stated capacity. I have a Brother HL-3170CDX printer. A few key strokes on the printer control panel resets each of the cartridges. I run them until the print quality starts to fade and THEN replace them. I don't know if your printers are the same but it certainly something to check on.

I use EZink cartridges. Inexpensive (relatively speaking) and no question of quality. The following is a link to what I buy.

Toner cartridges at Amazon

 

[Countrymouse]

First off #$@#$@#$%#T$#$

Now that I have gotten that out of my system...

In the last year we have to replace our old ( 6+ years old ) Canon high capacity printers. These were the printers that printed 10s of thousands of pages each year for our clients.

Yes, we are going paperless for the client whom will allow it, but the majority 90% still want to see hard copies that they do not need to print...

Why? Generally the clients don't have toner or a working printer 3 out of 4 times..... what a waste on my end....

But that is not the topic today.......

The new printers are of excellent quality and we have had no issues with the speed or quality of printing ( Brother's printers ) and they had a fair price of $400 each....

So the issue......

1) The $%@#$% toner cartridges are no loner 5k pages, but 3k pagers. Okay we can deal with that, but the Brother's direct is $119 per cartridge, but we found a decent source ( 4Inkjets ) that will give us 5 for a decent price.....

That is my 1st issue.....

2) We just found out that the machines ALSO require that their drums be replaced once every 12k pages, which for us is 4 times per year at a MINIMUM..... #$%#$%#$%#$#$%#$ at over a $100 per..... thankfully 4Inkjets had them at a decent price.....


This office stuff is getting expensive.... my @#$%#$% pens doubled in the last 3 years and my folders now cost 50% more.......


Ugh!!!!!!

There are ways (search the internet) to "fool" the COUNTERS in the machines to make them think you HAVE replaced the toners and/or drums when you have NOT.

You have to find the right procedure for your machine, and once implemented, keep a watch on quality for deterioration that shows you really DO need to change them.

And I no longer download their "updates"; I fear those are just "over-rides" or "patches" to shut down the above go-arounds.

 

[Countrymouse]

Keep in mind that these cartridges will print considerably more than the stated capacity. I have a Brother HL-3170CDX printer. A few key strokes on the printer control panel resets each of the cartridges. I run them until the print quality starts to fade and THEN replace them. I don't know if your printers are the same but it certainly something to check on.

I use EZink cartridges. Inexpensive (relatively speaking) and no question of quality. The following is a link to what I buy.

Toner cartridges at Amazon

The machines are run by the COUNTERS now, not the actual amount of ink left or the print quality.

You have to do the go-arounds I mentioned above.

 

[Jez]

Buy a used HP 1022. Mine is 15 yrs old, and prints EVERYDAY. Only use HP toner, though.

The old Laserjet 3 or 2100 were damn near indestructible. What caused us to finally phase them out is all the rubber wheels would get smooth and I couldn't source replacements. I kept a boneyard for parts until the boss threw a tantrum about clutter in the storage closet. We then went with the new top-o-the line HP that would shit itself a few days after the warranty period expired. That was not budget friendly.

 

[Knoxville's Joker]

The old Laserjet 3 or 2100 were damn near indestructible. What caused us to finally phase them out is all the rubber wheels would get smooth and I couldn't source replacements. I kept a boneyard for parts until the boss threw a tantrum about clutter in the storage closet. We then went with the new top-o-the line HP that would shit itself a few days after the warranty period expired. That was not budget friendly.

Did your boss realize his mistake after that?

 

[Jez]

Did your boss realize his mistake after that?

Maybe, but not that that a$$h0l3 would admit it. Looking back he was an abusive jerk and I should have quit long before I got fired.

 

[Southside]

The old Laserjet 3 or 2100 were damn near indestructible. What caused us to finally phase them out is all the rubber wheels would get smooth and I couldn't source replacements. I kept a boneyard for parts until the boss threw a tantrum about clutter in the storage closet. We then went with the new top-o-the line HP that would shit itself a few days after the warranty period expired. That was not budget friendly.

You are SO right!
We had a Laser Jet 2, with a Jet fax, so all my faxes came off the laser printer, in 1992!
Had that one FOREVER!

It was probably in the early 2000's that you could no longer use HP 2 as your "go to" emulation, when no other driver would work!

 

[Griz3752]

Unless he has a lot of clients with extensions. LOL

That's an almost evil thought with IRS Filing Deadline right there, just a few hours away

 

[Kathy in FL]

You are SO right!
We had a Laser Jet 2, with a Jet fax, so all my faxes came off the laser printer, in 1992!
Had that one FOREVER!

It was probably in the early 2000's that you could no longer use HP 2 as your "go to" emulation, when no other driver would work!

It is the drivers more than parts/toner that is a problem for us with HPs. Now the Brother brand is going that direction. I have a source on Amazon that works well with my HP color laser jet but they "leak" when they start to get low leaving a rainbow edge on my sheets of paper. Lucky for me the band is so narrow I can cut it off with a paper cutter and people barely know the difference. Or, assuming hubby isn't using his all hot and heavy I just sent the print job that way. The black printer cartridges never seem to do it, only the color tone cartridges.

 

[Southside]

I got lucky and found a HP LJ 4200DN. A work horse, 100K duty cycle, had 1.75 million copies on it, I paid $50 on Ebay. The company still uses that machine & we got it 10 years ago.

 

[Griz3752]

I got lucky and found a HP LJ 4200DN. A work horse, 100K duty cycle, had 1.75 million copies on it, I paid $50 on Ebay. The company still uses that machine & we got it 10 years ago.

There are some true work horse bargains to be had but good luck getting any service if there's a failure If you're printer service savvy I bet you can keep so of those "clinkers" going for years but I'm not.

I've had lots of older Canons which were great in their day then went to HP for the quiet operation. That is no longer the case and thanks to the HP web app, I've fallen out of love with that brand.

. . . .

 

[medic38572]

This office stuff is getting expensive.... my @#$%#$% pens doubled in the last 3 years and my folders now cost 50% more.......



And this is why I've gone back to writing with fountain pens! And if you really want your BP to go up, try buying quality paint brushes.

I get my pens for free. Every time I go to the eye doctor or to the Reg Doctor, they always give them out for free. I like their pens for 2 reasons. Pen or can use it with my tablet!

 

[Tex88]

I use a brother mfc-7360 currently. This thing has copied tens of thousands of pages using off brand linyo toner cartridges and drums. Someone tossed a older 2200 series at the discard pile at the local storage unit. Brought it home plugged it in and printed pages out of it. Maybe search for a brother legacy model?

Brother HL-L2395DW here. Copies prints scans. Connects to wired and wireless network. You can even print from your phone.

Page Counter: 39,527

Replace Count
Toner: 16
Drum Unit: 1
Total Paper Jams: 70